Typewriting practice device



Feb. 10. 1925. Y 1,526,064

' ,J. HALBERSTADTER TYPEWRITING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed June 21 1924 2sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a/u DH Hm. BEEJTHD TEE ATTO R N EYS Feb. 10. 1925.

J. HALBERSTADTER TYPEWRITING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed June 21 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Juan '/-/flLaE2.sTHo-rE/2 ATTORNEYS 20 areaccomplished by Patented Feb. 10, 19 25.

UNITED ,STATES,

JUDA HALBERSTADTER, or 13300313311, NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING PRACTICE'DEVIGE.

- Application filed June 21, 1924. Serial No. 721,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UDA I-IArnnns'rAnTEn,

a citizen of the Republic of Germany, residing at Brooklyn, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Typewriting Practice Devices, of which the following isa specification. I

This invention relates to means for enabling a person to learn how tooperate a typewriter, and has for its main object to provide apracticing device of the character stated, adapted .to enable a beginnerto learn how to operate a typewriter of a predetermined design ortypewriters of various designs or makes under the most favorableconditions, in the shortest time possible, and at a minimum expense.

Such, and other objects of the invention the means hereinafterdescribed, which constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention. Itis to be understood, however, that changes, modifications, andalterations may be made therein without departing from the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein/thepractising apparatus is provided with a keyboard similar to those now ingeneral use, in connection with which each key rests on a resilient keylever, which when being pressed down, causes a corresponding letter. toappear; in this way it is possible for the person operating thetypewriter to note for himself as to 85 whether or nothe has struck theright key.

For writing capital letters or figures, additional keys are provided asin the case of the customary typewriters, in the actuation of which asign is placed in the correct position, or is made visible, in a way toshow whether the desired capital letter, has been correctly struck. I

Finally, as in the case of the well known makes of typewriters, a blankkey. is pro- 4 vided, which by means of a simple lever transfer,displaces a small plate or other device, showing that the space betweenthe WOIdS, signs, or figures has been correctly ma e.

The key lever and the lever systems con nected therewith can bemanufactured at a lowprice from bent wire, so that the entire practisingapparatus can be manufactured and obtained at a comparatively smallexpense.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a 7 deviceembodying the invention. 60 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the deviceshown in Fig. 1 having a keylever arrange- '.ment, with only one row ofkeys.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in. Fig. 1 illustratingthe arrange mentof the shift key for capital letters, and also the blankkey arrangement.

As illustrated in the drawings, the practising apparatus contains a baseplate a, preferably in the iform'of a wooden board above which thekeyboard is arranged. In the case of a completely equipped practisingapparatus, a plurality of key levers b are arranged .in four rows, thenumber of keys being equal to the number usually employed on standardmachines, Fig. 2 for instance showing one row.

There is furthermore provided a frame or housing 0 which rests on thebase late d, and which serves-as a support for the lever and rod systemconnected with the key levers.

Each one of the key levers b carries at its front end in a well knownmanner a key a and, below the key the lever is doubled'over 86 on itselfto form a loop-like striker 7. On

its rear end, each of the key levers b is curved in order to obtain aspring bend g, which ends in an arm b, that is attached at its front atb, to the base late (1.

The keys e may preferab y be fastened to I the key levers b in adetachable manner, for instance, by screws or otherwise, so that anexchange of keys is made possible. In this manner the arrangement of thekeys may be adjusted to the various keyboards of the different makes ofmachines, thereby making it possible for the beginner to becomeacquainted with the different systems.

Inasmuch as the keys are arranged in sevon board a,

various typewriter systems.

' gaged eral rows, ste wise, at'diiferent heights, the portions of t eke levers between the bottoms of the loop-1i e bends f and the keys eare not made of the same height; the front row of keys which is arrangedlowest, preferably having the shortest of these portions, and each oneof the following rows having portions of increasing length. In this waythe base plate a forms a striking surface for all the rows ofthekeyboard, in case of the downward movement of a key. By striking eachkey when pressed down with the finger, produces at the same time aclicking sound, also noticeable in actual typewriting.

To each key lever b there is connected, in any suitable manner, avertical arm h, which at the time of the pressing down of the shift keymakes a downward movement. This arm' is guided in a plate h (Fig. 1) ofthe frame 0, and carries at its upper end a covering plate 2'. As manyrows of covering plates 5 are provided as there are rows of characters.

Behind each row of plates on the frame a, there is arran ed a row ofletters or figures correspon ing to the letters and figarcs of thosekeys to which the corresponding, covering plates z belong. The letter or'gure rows arranged in frame 0 are suitably arranged in such a mannerthat they can be exchanged, for instance, on strips which can be pulledout from the side, so that it is possible to make an exchange inaccordance with the different keyboards of the This exchange, in casethe beginner is to practice with a machine system having a differentalphabet arrangement, must be effected at the same time when changingthe keys, as stated above.

The manner of operation is such that if the finger presses down the key6, the corresponding plate 2' is carried along downward by arm 72, sothat there appears the letter (or fi ure) arranged behind plate 2'. Inthis way the beginner can check up whether he has struck the right keyor not.

On the front side of the machine frame, preferably above the row or rowsk, for the letters and figures, a table Z is arranged, as shown in Fig.3 and provided on each end with a window like opening m. Adjacent theen'd openings m, small plates at are pro vided and made visible in caseone of the two lateral shift keys n is struck. corresponding to thecapital letters. Each of the small plates n is given a correspondinginscription, for instance Capital or the inscription CL. (capitalletter). Each of the shift keys n is in turn connected with a key leverb.

In each of these key levers b there is enan arm 0 with which there isconnected by means of an eyelet, a double lever table Z.

0 pivotally supported in the frame. The front end of the double lever o"is connected with a rod 0" which is guidedvertically on the frame, andcarries a small plate n.

In case one of the shift keys n is pressed down, the swinging doublelever 0' lifts the rod 0", and brings the respective small plate orwithin the opening of the window m of The beginner in this way knowsthat he has correctly struck the shift key. The two small plates narenormally covered by the front wall of the frame and are only visibleupon their coming within the opening of one of the windows m.

The blank key p is connected with the two key levers p which otherwiseare constructed like the key lever b." A rod 9 enga es the two levers 7)and is connected by a rod 1' with a rocking lever r restin on the frame.The lever r is'connected with a rod .9 which is guided vertically, andwhich rod carries at its upper end a small plate 8'. The latter in itsrest position like the two lateral small plates n, is not visible, beingconcealed by the front wall of the frame.

In case the blank key the two swinging'key levers p pull down the rod (7and the rod r, whereby the lever 1- is swung out, lifting the smallplate a. The latter in so doing comes within the opening of the middlewindow t of table Z.

The small plate 8' may also be given a blank surface, in this wayshowing that there is a spacing after a written word.

Instead, as in the manner 'described of displaying the letters of thealphabet, or the figures by one of the small covering plates n onpressing down a key, the arrangement can also be made in such a mannerthat each one of the small plates 2', may be given the letter or figurein question. and as in the case of the smallplates n and s when the keyis pressed down the letters or figures are lifted or brought intoexposedposition.

What I claim is:

1. A typewritinopractice device, including a main frame. a plurality ofrows of normally concealed reference characters on said frame, a shutterfor concealing each character, a board of keys simulating-those of atypewriter and each corresponding to one of said characters. and aconnection between each key and the shutter associated with thecorresponding character, said connection being operable upon depressionof its key to move the shutter to a position exposing the associatedcharacter.

2. A typewriting practice device including a base plate, a main frame, aplurality of rows of normally concealed reference characters on saidframe, a shutter for concealing each character. a board of keyssimulating those of a typewriter and each p is pressed down,

corresponding to one of said characters, a actor, said connection beingoperable upon lever for each key having a loop interdepression of itskey to move the shutter to mediate its ends normally out of contact aposition exposing the associated character. 1 with said base plate andengageable there- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my with when thekey is depressed, and a consignature.

nection between each key lever and the shutter associated with thecorresponding cher- J UDA HALBERSTADTER.

